Ice dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An ice dispensing apparatus is described which is capable of dispensing free ice or ice in a sealed bag. The apparatus has an ice manufacturing zone capable of converting incoming water to ice. An ice storage zone receives the ice from the ice manufacturing zone. An ice distribution zone has a distributor capable of receiving the ice from the ice storage zone and distributing the ice to a free ice chute or an ice bagging station wherein the free ice chute discharges ice to an exterior receptacle. The ice bagging station has a bag funnel capable of receiving ice and passing the ice in a downward flow of predetermined size. A bag storage device stores multiple bags prior to use. A bag grabbing device removes a bag from the bag storage device and bag filling hold the bag with a mouth opened to a size which is at least as large as the predetermined size whereby the ice passing through the bag funnel is collected in the bag. Bag closing pins hold the bag with the mouth in an orientation for sealing. A sealer converts the mouth of the bag to a seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to an apparatus for making anddispensing ice. More specifically, the present invention is related to amobile apparatus capable of providing large volumes of ice fordistribution into either user supplied receptacles or bags which arefilled and sealed within the apparatus.

There are many large events which have a demand for high volumes of iceover a short period of time. Typical events include sporting events,political events, disaster locations, mobile medical care situations andthe like. The most common way in which such events are supplied is toprovide bagged ice in a refrigerated truck or trailer. This is costlyand may be difficult to do, particularly, when the event is notaccessible in a reasonable amount of time.

The present invention provides an ice dispensing apparatus which can betransported to a location by air, land or sea and which can act as astand-alone ice manufacturing and dispensing station with the capabilityof dispensing in either a chute for collection in receptacles, or insealed bags.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an ice dispensing apparatuswhich is mobile, yet, capable of manufacturing and dispensing largevolumes of ice.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an ice dispensingapparatus which can dispense ice directly from a chute or in sealedbags.

A particular feature of the present invention is the compact nature ofthe apparatus.

These and other advantages, as will be realized, are provided in an icedispensing apparatus. The apparatus has an ice manufacturing zonecapable of converting incoming water to ice. An ice storage zonereceives the ice from the ice manufacturing zone. An ice distributionzone has a distributor capable of receiving the ice from the ice storagezone and distributing the ice to a free ice chute or an ice baggingstation wherein the free ice chute discharges ice to an exteriorreceptacle. The ice bagging station has a bag funnel capable ofreceiving ice and passing the ice in a downward flow of predeterminedsize. A bag storage device stores multiple bags prior to use. A baggrabbing device removes a bag from the bag storage device and bagfilling hold the bag with a mouth opened to a size which is at least aslarge as the predetermined size whereby the ice passing through the bagfunnel is collected in the bag. Bag closing pins hold the bag with themouth in an orientation for sealing. A sealer converts the mouth of thebag to a seal.

Yet another embodiment is provided in a method for providing ice. Themethod includes:

-   converting water to ice in an ice manufacturing zone;-   transporting the ice from the manufacturing zone to an ice    dispensing zone;-   moving a director to a position selected from a free ice dispense    position and a bagged ice dispense position wherein when the    director is in a free ice dispense position the ice passes through    the director to a free ice chute;-   wherein when the director is in a bagged ice position the ice passes    through the director into a bag wherein the bag has an open mouth    which is held open by bag filling pins;-   and sealing said bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side schematic view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a back side view schematic view of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the bag filling mechanism.

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of the hopper assembly of the bag fillingmechanism.

FIGS. 4-10 illustrate the stepwise operation of the bag filling station.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart representation of an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is specific to an apparatus for manufacturing anddispensing ice. More specifically, the present invention is related toan apparatus which can dispense ice from a chute, for capture by areceptacle provided by the user, or in sealed bags.

The invention will be described with reference to the various figureswhich form an integral, non-limiting, part of the specification.Throughout the specification, similar elements will be numberedaccordingly.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in side view in FIG. 1. InFIG. 1, the ice dispensing apparatus, generally represented at 10,comprises a shell, 12, within which the ice making, storage anddispensing occurs. A door, 14, provides access to the interior of theshell for maintenance and restocking of bags. The shell is preferablyinsulated to minimize ice melting within the shell. At least oneoptional light, 16, is provided on the exterior of the shell forvisibility in night time operations. An optional access door, 2, allowsaccess to a storage area.

The shell is preferably mounted on a carriage, 18, which may haveoptional mobility elements, 20, such as wheels. The carriage may beintegral to the shell or the shell may be removable from the carriage.In one embodiment the shell is transported to a location and then placedon a carriage during use. Transport can be by air, land or water.

A back side schematic view is illustrated in FIG. 1A. In FIG. 1A thefree ice door, 3, is illustrated wherein free ice exits the apparatusfor capture in a receptacle such as a cooler. A bag ice door, 4, isillustrated wherein bagged ice exits the apparatus. A user interface, 5,allows the user to request the manner in which ice is to be dispensed,bagged or free, and allows the user to pay for the ice if necessary.

The apparatus is illustrated in side cross-sectional schematic view inFIGS. 2 and 2A. The apparatus will be defined with reference to threedistinct zones. Zone A is an ice manufacturing zone. Zone B is an icestorage zone and Zone C is an ice dispensing zone. Each zone will bedescribed separately.

The ice manufacturing zone, referred to herein as Zone A, receives waterthrough a water coupler, 30. Water is preferably supplied from anexterior source such as a municipal water supply, a well, a lake, apond, a water transport device or the like. An optional, but preferred,filter, 31, is provided to remove contaminants. The source of water isnot particularly limited herein with the exception that the water mustbe suitable for the intended use. If the ice is to be used for drinkingpurposes the incoming water must be potable water as would be realized.The water enters an ice maker, 32, which freezes the water into icecubes of a predetermined shape and size. The ice can be manufactured inthe desired size or manufactured in a larger size and then reduced suchas by crushing. Manufacturing at the intended size of dispensing ispreferred. The construction of the ice maker is not particularly limitedherein. The most common type of ice makers utilize adiabatic expansionof a refrigeration medium, such as a halogenated hydrocarbon, as thecooling mechanism. A compressor, 34, compresses the refrigeration mediumthereby liberating heat which is expelled into an environment exteriorto the refrigeration unit. The refrigeration medium is allowed to expandin an expansion chamber, 36, such as a coil, within the ice makerthereby absorbing heat.

The ice is transferred from the ice maker to the ice storage zone, ZoneB, for storage until a request for ice is made by a user. In oneembodiment, the ice is dispensed from the ice maker to a maker chute,38, wherein it enters a storage transfer element, 40. The storagetransfer element may be a conveyor which rotates, as indicated by thearrow, 42, wherein the ice is allowed to fall into the ice storage zonethrough a passage, 44, between the ice manufacturing zone and the icestorage zone. In an alternative embodiment an auger, 41, transfers theice as illustrated in FIG. 2A.

The ice storage zone is preferable a storage cavity, 46, which functionsas an ice holding tank within which ice is stored. A dispense unittransport element, 48, transfers the ice from the ice storage zone to aice dispensing zone. In a preferred embodiment the dispense unittransport element is an auger, 50, which transports the ice by rotation.A collector, 52, preferably extending between the interior walls,partially encloses the auger and persuades all ice towards the auger. Asloped collector floor, 54, also persuades the ice towards the auger.The collector and collector floor work in concert to insure that ice ispersuaded towards the auger by gravity. A motor, 56, turns the auger aswould be realized. A secondary cavity, 58, below the storage cavity ispreferably a dry area which may be used for storage and the like. Anagitator, 60, agitates the ice within the cavity to prohibit theformation of pockets and bridging within the ice which are referred toin the art as “rat holes”. An auger is a preferred agitator due to itsability to move ice laterally. Other rotating shafts, such as a shaftwith fingers extending there from can be used. A motor, 61, turns theagitator. When ice is poured into the top of a cavity and withdrawn fromthe bottom it is not uncommon for the ice to form bridges acrossstructural elements with a void below wherein the ice below the bridgehas been removed. The ice in the bridge can be substantial and canprohibit further migration of ice towards the auger. In practice, theoperation ceases with the ice machine incorrectly sensing a full iceholding zone and the ice dispensing zone no longer receiving ice. Theagitator agitates the ice thereby inhibiting formation of ice bridgeswithin the storage cavity or breaking those that have formed. Theagitator preferably operates on a predetermined time frame which isindependent of the dispensing operation. The agitator may be continuousor it may operate on a fixed intermittent schedule. In a preferredembodiment the agitator operates on a predetermined schedule with anoverride for additional agitation on demand when a decrease in ice isdetermined at the ice dispensing zone since this is suggestive of icebridge formation. In this instance additional rotation is triggeredthereby dislodging any ice bridge. The agitation auger can turn in onedirection or in a oscillatory motion.

The dispensing zone, Zone C, provides two dispensing options. In oneoption the ice is dispensed in free flow form, by a free chute, 62, andin another option the ice is dispensed in a sealed bag by a bag chute,64.

The auger, 50, is preferably enclosed in an auger tube, 68, within thedispensing zone thereby prohibiting ice from escaping the flow pathcreated by the auger. A hopper, 66, receives the ice from the auger ofthe dispense unit transport element. A director, 70, directs ice toeither the free chute or a bagging station. If ice is directed by thedistributor to the free chute the ice flows, preferably by gravity, to afree ice door (3 of FIG. 1A) in the shell for collection in areceptacle. If ice is directed by the distributor to the bagging stationit first enters a distributor, 72, which directs ice into an open end ofa bag as will be better understood after further discussion below. Bags,74, are stacked on a bag storage device, 76, preferably by wickets, 78,which are received by apertures in the individual bags as will be morefully understood after further discussion below. The bag storage device,76, has a channel, 80, which allows the bag storage device to rotate ona pivot, 82, in concert with the angle of the bag chute, 64, which isadjusted by a hydraulic cylinder, 83, as will be more fully describedbelow. A control panel, 84, which may be exterior to the shell, controlsthe ice maker, agitation, ice transport and various control aspects ofthe apparatus. A climate control element, 86, is preferably in thedispensing zone to control temperature and humidity at an optimum level.

A partial cut-away view of the bagging station is provided in FIG. 3. InFIG. 3, the hopper, 66, receives the ice as described above. Thedirector, 70, directs ice into a distributor, 72. The distributor has anangled floor, 87, with a peak. The floor is sloped away from the peak ineach direction. The director drops the ice on either side of the peakdepending on the request. On one side of the peak the ice will flow tothe free chute, 62, by gravity feed and on the other side of the peakthe ice will flow to a bag funnel, 88, which directs the ice into a bag.For the purposes of illustration a bag is not in position for receivingice in FIG. 3. A plunger cylinder, 92, will extend a plunger (notvisible) which will grab a side of a bag from the bag storage device anddraw to bag to open the mouth of the bag a certain extent. Four fillingpins, 90, enter the mouth of the bag and extend to open the mouth of thebag into a rectangle which is at least as large as the bag funnel.Therefore, ice flowing into and through the bag funnel will dropdirectly into the bag. When the bag is full, preferably based on adetermination of weight by the bag chute, 64, a pair of bag closurepins, 91, enters the open mouth of the bag. The filling pins arecollapsed and removed from the mouth and the bag closure pins move awayfrom each other thereby greatly increasing the length of the rectangleformed by the open mouth of the bag at the expense of the width. The bagclosure pins preferably extend to form a rectangle which is essentiallythe same width as the thickness of the bag closure pins withoutsignificantly stretching the bag. Mating thermal sealers, 95, approacheach other just below the bag closure pins and with the bag therebetween. The thermal sealers press the bag closed and form a seal,preferably, by heat. The bag is then released and slides down the bagchute due to gravity. In one embodiment the ice is weighed by the bagchute. In another embodiment the ice is weighed by the hopper. Inanother embodiment the ice is weighed by the filling pins.

FIG. 3A is an isolated view of the hopper. The distributor and hoppermove, as indicated by the arrow, relative to each other such that theice from the hopper falls on the angled floor on the appropriate side ofthe angled floor for the ice to be directed to the appropriatedistribution mode.

FIGS. 4-10 schematically illustrate the preferred bag filling mechanismof the invention in more detail. In FIG. 4, the bag funnel, 88,indicated by dashed lines, is positioned over the eventual location ofan open bag. The filling pins, 90, are in a rectangular configurationwith opposing arms in close proximity. A plunger cylinder, 92, andassociated plunger, 93, are in a position with the plunger retracted.The bags, 74, are on the bag storage device, 76 and suspended bywickets, 78.

In FIG. 5, the plunger, 93, is extended from the plunger cylinder, 92,to the extent necessary to grab the closest bag preferably by suction.In FIG. 6, the plunger, 93, is retracted drawing the bag there with. Thebag is still partially captured by the bag storage device therebypersuading the mouth of the bag to open to the extent necessary for thebag filling pins to fit within the open mouth of the bag.

In FIG. 7, the bag filling pins move away from each other which forms arectangular mouth on the bag with the rectangle extending beyond theboundary of the projection of the bag funnel, 88. Therefore, as icefalls from the bag funnel the ice will enter the bag.

Once the bag is full, as determined by weight or volume, the bag issealed. With reference to FIG. 8, the bag filling pins are withdrawnfrom the bag in favor of the closure pins, 91, which are placed in themouth of the bag. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the closure pins arewithdrawn from each other thereby drawing the two sides of the bagtogether wherein the two sides are in close proximity and substantiallyparallel to each other.

The bag is now ready for sealing as illustrated in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9,the mating thermal sealers move counter to one another and press thewalls of the bag there between wherein the walls of the bag are incontact. The mating thermal sealers fuse the bag thereby forming a seal.As illustrated in FIG. 10, the bag, now with a seal, 96, is allowed toslide down the bag chute, 64, wherein it slides out of the apparatus dueto gravity. The bag is preferably supported by the bag chute duringfilling.

A flow chart illustrating the operation of the apparatus is provided inFIG. 11. A controller, 100, receives a request for ice from an inputreceiver, 102, which is preferably accessible on the exterior of theapparatus. The input receiver can be a push button device wherein a usermakes selections of how ice is to be dispensed by selecting a buttonwhich indicates bag or free. The input receiver may include a paymentsystem such as a coin or bill collector or reader or a card reader. Ingeneral, the input receiver allows a user to request that ice bedispensed in either free flow form or in a bag in predetermined amountsor user determined amounts. The controller monitors each zone andcontrols various functions.

If a request for ice is made at 102, the controller relays the type ofrequest to the ice dispensing zone, Zone C at 104. A determination ofbagged ice is made at 106. If bagged ice is not to be dispensed thecontroller determines if the director is over the free chute at 108. Ifthe director is not over the free chute the director is moved at 110 andice is dispensed at 112 to the free chute. If bagged ice is requestedthe controller determines if the director is over the funnel at 114. Ifthe director is not over the funnel the director is moved at 116. A bagis grabbed from a bag stack at 118. For the purposes of illustration thebag is grabbed from the stack after with the director in proper locationfor dumping ice in the bag, however, it would be understood that thetiming for placing a bag in ice receiving position may be independent ofthe director positioning. In one embodiment the bag may be placed inreceiving position upon receiving a request for a bag of ice. In anotherembodiment a bag may be placed in receiving position after distributionof a previous bag thereby having a bag available prior to receiving arequest for bagged ice.

The bag is opened at 120 and ice is added at 122 until the bag isdetermined to be full at 124. Once the bag is full the bag is partiallyclosed at 126 and sealed at 128. The bag is dispensed at 130. Thedetermination of a full bag may be by weight or by volume dispensed withweight being preferred.

The controller, 100, monitors the status of the ice storage zone, ZoneB. It is preferable to maintain ice between a minimum level and amaximum level. The minimum level is a level below which there isinsufficient ice for the anticipated demand. The maximum level may be afull ice storage zone or the maximum level necessary to insure adequatesupply to the dispensing zone. For the purposes of discussion themaximum is referred to as full and the minimum is referred to as empty.A determination is made as to whether the ice holding zone is full at132. If the ice holding zone is not full a determination is made as towhether the ice holding zone is below the minimum level at 134. Once theice is below the minimum level an indication to add ice is made at 136.

When ice is requested from the ice manufacturing zone, Zone A, adetermination is made as to whether the ice is frozen at 138. If the iceis not frozen a timer is set at 140, for a recheck after a predeterminedtime. Once the predetermined time is met the determination is made againas to whether the ice is frozen at 138. Once the ice is frozen it isdispensed to the ice storage zone at 142.

The controller is illustrated as a single unit even though one of skillin the art would appreciate that the controller may include separatecontrollers with manual interaction there between. A controller whichintegrates all three zones without human intervention is most preferred.In another embodiment certain elements of the controller may beseparated. As would be realized the controller preferably has overridemechanisms allowing a master user to operate certain elements of theapparatus independently of others for diagnostic and maintenancepurposes.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferredembodiments without limit thereto. One of skill in the art wouldappreciate additional embodiments, alterations and adaptations which arenot specifically recited but which are within the scope of the inventionas more specifically set forth in the claims appended hereto.

1. An ice dispensing apparatus comprising: an ice manufacturing zonecapable of converting incoming water to ice; an ice storage zone capableof receiving said ice from said ice manufacturing zone; an icedistribution zone comprising a distributor capable of receiving said icefrom said ice storage zone and distributing said ice to a free ice chuteor an ice bagging station wherein said free ice chute discharges ice toan exterior receptacle; and wherein said ice bagging station comprises:a bag funnel capable of receiving said ice and passing said ice in adownward flow of predetermined size; a bag storage device capable ofstoring multiple bags prior to use; a bag grabbing device capable ofremoving a bag from said bag storage device; bag filling pins capable ofholding said bag with a mouth opened to a size which is at least aslarge as said predetermined size whereby said ice passing through saidbag funnel is collected in said bag; bag closing pins capable of holdingsaid bag with said mouth in an orientation for sealing; a sealer capableof converting said mouth of said bag to a seal.
 2. The ice dispensingapparatus of claim 1 wherein said distributor comprises an angled floorcomprising a peak and a downward slope on each side of said peak whereinone downward slope directs said ice to said free chute and one saiddownward slope directs said ice to said bag funnel.
 3. The icedispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ice storage zone comprisesan agitator.
 4. The ice dispensing apparatus of claim 3 wherein saidagitator comprises an auger.
 5. The ice dispensing apparatus of claim 1wherein said filling pins separate thereby opening said mouth.
 6. Theice dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a conveyorbetween said ice manufacturing zone and said ice storage zone.
 7. Amethod for providing ice comprising: converting water to ice in an icemanufacturing zone; transporting said ice from said manufacturing zoneto an ice dispensing zone; moving a director to a position selected froma free ice dispense position and a bagged ice dispense position whereinwhen said director is in a free ice dispense position said ice passesthrough said director to a free ice chute; wherein when said director isin a bagged ice position said ice passes through said director into abag wherein said bag has an open mouth which is held open by bag fillingpins and sealing said bag.
 8. The method for providing ice of claim 7further comprising inserting bag sealing pins in said mouth prior tosaid sealing.
 9. The method for providing ice of claim 7 furthercomprising transporting said ice from said ice manufacturing zone to anice storage zone prior;
 10. The method for providing ice of claim 7further comprising transporting said ice by an auger.
 11. The method forproviding ice of claim 7 wherein said sealing said bag comprisesthermally sealing said bag.
 12. The method for providing ice of claim 7further comprising agitating said ice.
 13. The method for providing iceof claim 7 further comprising passing said ice from said director to adistributor wherein said distributor has a floor with a peak and adownward slope on either side of said peak.